Vaginal discharge usually works to keep the genital area clean and healthy. But if it looks or smells abnormal, it could be a sign of a health problem.

Don't Miss This

Paying attention to your vaginal discharge is smart self-care. But do you know what’s normal — and what’s not? Normal white discharge helps keep the vagina clean, lubricated, and free from germs and infections. On the other hand, vaginal discharge that looks or smells abnormal can be a sign of health problems. It’s also important to keep in mind that your menstrual cycle can influence the type of vaginal discharge you’ll have on any particular day — and the discharge during pregnancy will differ, too.

Vaginal Discharge During the Menstrual Cycle

All women produce vaginal discharge during their childbearing years, starting a year or two before puberty and ending after menopause. However, the color and thickness of vaginal discharge will vary during the menstrual cycle, depending on the levels of estrogen circulating in the body.

After your period ends, you’ll have thick, white discharge. But around 14 days after your period ends — around the time of ovulation — your vaginal discharge will turn clear and become watery and so elastic that it can form thin strands or ropes. When your ovary releases an egg in the middle of your menstrual cycle, your body also increases the production of vaginal discharge.

“It’s common to have 30 times more vaginal discharge in the middle of the menstrual cycle,” says Carol Livoti, MD, a gynecologist in New York City and a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “This wetness is a sign that you’re ovulating.”

After the middle of your menstrual cycle, your vaginal discharge will start to thicken. When you get towards the end of your menstrual cycle — close to when you start your period — you’ll have white discharge again.

There’s nothing you can do to reduce the amount of vaginal discharge or change its consistency — and you wouldn’t want to anyway. This vaginal discharge is your body’s way of flushing out bacteria.

Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy

The same kind of white discharge you may have noticed early in your menstrual cycle will continue after you’re pregnant. What’s the big change? There will be a lot more of it.

“Because of greater blood flow to the vagina and a boost in estrogen production, vaginal discharge in pregnancy will be in overdrive,” says Livoti. You may want to wear a panty liner to avoid wetness on your clothes.

A few weeks before your delivery date, you’ll notice another increase in the amount of vaginal discharge, as well as a thicker consistency. This occurs because the mucus plug, which fills the tiny opening to the cervix, is being discharged in preparation for labor. Amniotic fluid may also leak steadily, in tiny amounts, as your body prepares for birth. But if there’s a sudden gush of fluid, get to the hospital right away. This means that your water broke and you’ll be giving birth soon.

If you’re not yet at 37 weeks, call your doctor immediately if you notice a sudden increase or change in the color of your discharge in pregnancy, especially if it’s tinged with blood. This could be a sign of preterm labor.

When Vaginal Discharge Isn’t Normal

While vaginal discharge is normal most of the time, in some instances it can indicate an infection. “Normal discharge is clear or white and doesn’t smell bad,” says Livoti. “You should be concerned if your vaginal discharge is yellow, gray, or green, has a clumpy texture like cottage cheese, or has an abnormal odor.”

Abnormal discharge could signal one of these conditions:

Vaginosis. Vaginal discharge that is yellow, green, or gray could indicate vaginosis, which is a bacterial vaginal infection. Another clue that you may have this type of infection: “Your vaginal discharge will have a fishy smell,” says Livoti.

Yeast infection. A white discharge that looks like cottage cheese is the cardinal sign of a yeast infection. You’ll probably also have intense itching and may notice some swelling around the vulva.

Chlamydia or gonorrhea. If you’re not pregnant or in the middle of your menstrual cycle, a sudden increase in the amount of vaginal discharge could be a symptom of one of these STDs. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can also cause a burning sensation when you urinate.

Your doctor should evaluate any of these changes in your vaginal discharge. Vaginal infections, including STDs, are usually treatable.

To prevent unhealthy vaginal discharge, keep the genital area clean and dry, avoid douching, always use condoms during sex, and steer clear of feminine hygiene products, perfumed soaps, and scented tampons or pads. “Good hygiene and practicing safe sex are the best ways to keep your vaginal discharge normal and healthy,” says Livoti.

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about
your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of
interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make
choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here.